Elements of Long-Range Planning

Every organization needs a long-range plan.  The purpose of the plan is to clarify the mission, to examine the forces that affect the organization and to establish a vision of the future.  Out of this come the goals and objectives to be achieved within a defined time-frame.

A long-range plan is especially important in fund-raising.  It helps establish priorities so that the most important things to be funded receive appropriate attention.  It also places funding needs in the larger context of the overall needs of the organization.

      The elements of a typical long-range plan are as follows:

1.   MISSION STATEMENT - Defines the organization's purpose and philosophy.

2.      ENVIRONMENT - External/Internal forces and how they affect the organization.

External

  • Demographics
  • Competitive
  • Political/Governmental
  • Technological
  • Social/Cultural

Internal

  • Human resources
  • Financial resources
  • Physical resources
  • Programs or services

                            

3.      SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS

    • Strengths
    • Opportunities
    • Weaknesses 
    • Threats

4.   STRATEGIC VISION -"Where the organization wants to be" in five years.

5.   GOALS, OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES - Developing definite plans to achieve the strategic vision & assigning responsibility for accomplishing tasks (e.g., annual operating plan, management by objective, departmental goals, etc.).

Mary Ellen Shuntich on Synergy

When people come together with a vision, everything moves to a new level. Everybody feels the flow of energy and wants to be a part of it, and thier efforts become joyful. We help our clients reach that level of synergy.